Method of optimizing performance of flash memory

Abstract

A method of optimizing performance of a flash memory is provided. According to the method of the present invention, a page or a block can be selected as a unit for writing data to the flash memory. When the flash memory controller process the step of writing data into the flash memory, the volume of data is calculated for determining the time and frequency of moving and erasing data for both page and block as a unit. Based on the above result, the most appropriate method of writing data is selected to substantially improve speed of the writing process and also to reduce the frequency of erasing steps in order to extend the service life of the flash memory.

1. A method of optimizing performance of a flash memory, comprising the step of:
 (a) providing a flash memory controller, wherein said flash memory controller is connected to said flash memory, and said flash memory controller is programmed for calculating, according to a volume of said data, a time of moving and erasing said data for a page as a unit, and a time of moving and erasing said data for a block as a unit; and 
 (b) selecting either a page as a unit or a block as a unit according to a result of said calculation of said time of moving and erasing data for said page as a unit and for said block as a unit. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of optimizing performance of a flash memory according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating a time (TIME) of moving and erasing said data for a page includes the steps of erasing data, reading the data of the page(s), programming the page(s) and writing the data to the page(s) using a page as a unit, and is expressed by the following equation:
   TIME= PE*N+PP*N    
 wherein PP represents the time for programming the page(s), PE represents the time for erasing the page(s), and N represents the total number of pages. 
 
   
   
     3. The method of optimizing performance of a flash memory according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating a time (TIME) of moving and erasing said data for a page includes the steps of erasing data, reading the data of the page(s), programming the page(s) and writing the data to the page(s) using a page as a unit, and is expressed by the following equation:
   TIME= BE* 1 +PR *(32 −N )+ PP *32 
 wherein PR represents the time for reading the data of the page(s), PP represents the time for programming the page(s), N represents the total number of pages, and BE represents the time for erasing the block.